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New law introduced to crack down on rogue parking firms

Date:
15 March 2019
|
Author: Sean Keywood

The government says UK drivers will have greater protection against bogus parking fines after new measures to crack down on rogue firms came into law.

The new Parking (Code of Practice) Act, which has received Royal Assent, brings in greater regulation of the private parking industry.

A new independent appeals service is being introduced to make it easier to challenge unfair tickets, and all private parking operators will have to follow a new industry-backed code of practice.

Firms that break the code could be barred from asking for motorists' information from the DVLA to enforce tickets.

Local government minister Rishi Sunak MP said: "Millions of us use private car parks every day, but for far too many drivers slapped with unjust fines this largely unregulated industry feels like the Wild West.

"Too often, I hear of awful treatment at the hands of dodgy parking firms, from problems paying for parking to intimidating demands for payment and baffling appeals processes.

"From today, we are able to cut out the rogue operators by creating a single Code of Practice and giving drivers greater protection through a new appeals service."

Reacting to the new law, RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: "Motorists will warmly welcome this new Act. For too long, some unscrupulous private parking operators have made drivers' lives a misery with some questionable practices, which has sent levels of trust in the sector plummeting.

"The code will create more consistent standards across the board, which should eliminate dubious practices and create a single, independent appeals process.

"The RAC has long called for changes to the way the private parking sector is regulated and this new code will undoubtedly make the lives of drivers easier."

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